Highlights from day two of the European Foundation Centre Annual Conference: ‘From crisis to opportunity – How can philanthropy accelerate sustainable change?’

Philanthropy track

.@CassieRobinson summarises at #PhilanthropyWorks by raising the potential for a Foresight Commons, as shared infrastructure between foundations, rather than each foundation commissioning its own foresight work from separate consultancies. Compares this to @FunderHub/@360Giving.

— Sameer Padania (@sdp) October 19, 2021

Amahra Spence (@amahra_) @MAIA_Group stresses to the Philanthropy track the essential importance of artists, saying that artists are always investing in imagining alternative systems, resonating in a way that data can’t. #PhilanthropyWorks pic.twitter.com/m62D7ZyY3I

— Philea – Philanthropy Europe Association (@philea_eu) October 19, 2021

Democracy track

“Power is becoming more once you share it“ – @vesna_ba in a moving emotional statement probably summing it all up #PhilanthropyWorks pic.twitter.com/TIyT6v29Wc

— ERSTE Foundation (@erstefoundation) October 19, 2021

György Hámori: “When covid hit the value of local action increased.”

“For me tacking global problems locally is the only way to do this. We need to trust local groups. We were able to react really fast because of them.” #PhilanthropyWorks

— Alliance magazine (@Alliancemag) October 19, 2021

Society track

When we talk about participation, @jamhanlee, @CityBridgeTrust explains in the Society track that we need to "think about the structures for participation in life, think about who has access, who benefits from these structures." #PhilanthropyWorks

— Philea – Philanthropy Europe Association (@philea_eu) October 19, 2021

The term empowerment suggests that there is a lack of power. In fact we should talk about the power of women and the limitations of the existing social order. – Marion Schaefer of @FondationCHANEL #PhilanthropyWorks pic.twitter.com/mBZRHsWF2f

— ERSTE Foundation (@erstefoundation) October 19, 2021

Climate track

During the last @The_EFC Climate track, @anabjain joined the discussion virtually.

“One of the most powerful means of affecting change is when people can directly, tangibly & emotionally, experience the future consequences of their actions today.”#PhilanthropyWorks pic.twitter.com/C2RSS4lXm6

— ERSTE Foundation (@erstefoundation) October 19, 2021

Could we get the kind of imaginative future scenario planning used by artists like @anabjain to finance sector leaders with whom @ca_howarth works with so they can consider new possibilities? #PhilanthropyWorks @The_EFC @apathysuckseggs

— Liz McKeon (@mckeon_liz) October 19, 2021

All the climate data points us towards a mass extinction event ☠️. But we need a more optimistic, more imaginative blueprint for what life could be, if we only make it happen 🌈. #PhilanthropyWorks

— Philea – Philanthropy Europe Association (@philea_eu) October 19, 2021

We breathe 16x a minute, an enormous amount of air goes through our bodies in just one day. Like a fish in a dirty tank of water, we are swimming in air (#pollution) – Alexander Simidchiev, Air4Health #PhilanthropyWorks pic.twitter.com/6CGwIZmROE

— Philea – Philanthropy Europe Association (@philea_eu) October 19, 2021

The recent EFC study shows that out of 6,230 grants provided by 136 foundations, only 2% focus on climate change mitigation. This ratio must increase! #PhilanthropyWorks @The_EFC https://t.co/m6xgABICrP

— Rana (@Ranakotan_) October 19, 2021

Children are most affected by air pollution because they:
1️⃣are shorter and closer to the ground where pollution is more dense
2️⃣breathe faster than adults
3️⃣have shorter airways
4️⃣are growing, and pollution affects their lung and brain development #PhilanthropyWorks pic.twitter.com/ch6xKwksOA

— Philea – Philanthropy Europe Association (@philea_eu) October 19, 2021